liquid pool cover experiences and thoughts V traditional pool cover

[Jaffles]

Hi gang, chasing some feedback on liquid pool covers. It sounds almost to be too good to be true?

My pool doesn't suffer from leaves and debris, so I'm primarily looking at pool covers for heating purposes with ease of use.

Have heard pool covers are a bit of a pain. The weight of them plus time to roll it back for a quick dip is not appealing. Too be honest I can't see my young teenage kids being fair to a cover. Plus it will be my job each night to rectify whats left of it.

My pool is also not rectangle so a 2 piece cover is required or leaves 1/4 of the pool open.

The wife thinks, and have to I agree, its nice to look out at the pool shimmering rather than some pool cover.

Its been suggested to me by someone selling both, a liquid pool cover is the best kept secret in the industry. Does virtually the same in trapping heat, reducing evaporation, and sparing chemicals as a hard cover. For my pool 450ml once a months is all that is required.

The cost of application on a monthly basis equals the cost of a cover with a 7 year life span, and there is no land fill in the end.

I use an auto PH and ORP douser, supposedly the liquid cover does not coat the sensors so the pool still reads as it should. I am sceptical of this as cyanurac acid (sunscreen) sure does.

Anyone comment on pros and cons, or reality of claims.

 

[HermanTX]

Following. does it gum up your filter? What happens when you swim, does it get churned up or does it attach to your skin? That “coating” has to go somewhere eventually. Also, sound fairly expensive.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

You can search TFP and find a few threads on these products. It’s been around a while. The hype outstrips reality by several miles. Liquid covers will NOT retain heat. What the chemical does, if applied properly and under very strict conditions, is to slow down evaporative heat loss. You will still lose heat to radiative losses and conductive loss. The reality is that these products rarely work well because any wind at all will cause the pool water surface to ripple which will basically nullify any heat trapping effect. It also leaves a noticeable “oil slick” film on the water.

It’s basically all hype …

 

[Mdragger88]

They are definitely not apples to apples.
A liquid cover is not going to do the same job as a solar cover for heat retention.
Also, If you really enjoy tfp clear water you’ll probably not enjoy the film that regular use of a liquid cover creates. I have some & have used it near the end of the season to reduce evaporation but I try to use it sparingly because of the film. I have had the same bottle for 3 seasons.
It won’t harm anything to try it but don’t expect miracles.

 

[Jaffles]

Thanks guys for the replies.
After posting I did what I should have first and did some searching. I may have some positives in my conner for the product to work, if there is any truth in its properties.

My pool is fairly sheltered and we often have still evenings. Though wind is wind.
My heater also has its own dedicated insulated line which draws from the deep end and returns well under the surface at the shallow. So all things being equal the surface of the pool is pretty still.

The manufacturer suggested once the pool has warmed and the shell has also warmed it will run much less. Then its a matter of reducing heat loss via the surface so a cover is a good idea. The heater will do most of the heating over night however when people are asleep as that is when a pool tends to drop temp. Because I have an odd shaped pool that doesn't suit a physical pool cover, the manufacturer who sells physical and liquid covers suggested the liquid. He is giving me two bottles to try of free.

My dilemma, or desire, is I'm trying to utilise the sun to heat the pool for the most part, as we have a sizeable solar system. The heater which does a good job at this however has a timer that works a 24hr cycle with a set point. It goes hammer and tongs until it reaches its target then coats regardless the time of day.
I'd like it to go to a timer that manages programming for hammer of tongs during the day say 9 to 4, then coats overnight. Coats is 20% of hammer and tongs and has proven it can maintain the days gain without a cover.

Guess its probably much of a muchness once the pool it at set temp and pending what is lost overnight.

 

[Jaffles]

Following. does it gum up your filter? What happens when you swim, does it get churned up or does it attach to your skin? That “coating” has to go somewhere eventually. Also, sound fairly expensive.

according to ol mate suggesting it, none of the above. I think as long as you add the correct amount its a sacrificial product that evaporates away over X period of time.

The cost of it is on par per month to a 525 micron blanket he is selling that has a 7 year guarantee.

There is much I don't like about blankets. Not made of recycled plastic and not recyclable is one. Life span is another then there is actual practice.

I am pondering alternatives like some type of roll out arched ribbed cover that utilises parachute type material. Maybe sil nylon, but it probably won't last in the sun either, furthermore it too is not recyclable.

 

[Mdragger88]

Btw- at least in the US, a solid solar cover (the kind with the bubbles) will last at most 2-3 years before it starts to shed its bubbles all in your pool no matter what they say.
so we recommend just getting the cheapest one & replacing it every couple years.
Most cover warranties are prorated after the 1st year or two & then there’s the shipping costs for the warranty replacement.

Solar Covers - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Btw- at least in the US, a solid solar cover (the kind with the bubbles) will last at most 2-3 years before it starts to shed its bubbles all in your pool no matter what they say.
so we recommend just getting the cheapest one & replacing it every couple years.
Most cover warranties are prorated after the 1st year or two & then there’s the shipping costs for the warranty replacement.

Solar Covers - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

And if you cut the cover to size it to your pool, the warranty is completely void …

 

[Mdragger88]

And if you cut the cover to size it to your pool, the warranty is completely void …

With an odd large shape or L shape I think most are better off with 2 covers so perhaps that wouldn’t pose a warranty issue, easier to handle 2 smaller ones too.
Sadly, The warranties on those things are really a joke unless it gets shipped to you with big slit in it right out of the box.
Go cheap lol !

 

[Jaffles]

Sadly the warranty on lots of things these days is garbage. Go cheap, forget the warranty, then chuck it when donee seems the path forward over better quality with warranty.

I am going to double the size of the solar in the near future. This will cover the pools heating on shoulder seasons. Maybe I'll just run with that. Smash it out through the day and let it cool over night whilst enjoying the mist.

We get free water here so it doesn't bother me too much how much it evaporates. I'd rather see water go to waste then loads of plastic every couple of years.